Michael Bourn contract: Cleveland's new center fielder can help the shaky pitching staff with stellar defense, but he can't solve all of the staff's problems. (AP Photo)

Certainly, Indians fans should be encouraged to see their team spending big bucks but they should also be wondering: What about the pitching? Why not, for example, sign Kyle Lohse instead of Bourn?

Lohse probably would have come cheaper than Bourn—he certainly would have been no more expensive—and the Indians need help for their rotation more than their lineup. Cleveland starters finished 13th in the American League with a 5.25 ERA last season. The Indians’ offense didn’t fare any better, finishing 13th in runs, but the club already had boosted its lineup by signing right fielder Nick Swisher to a four-year, $56 million contract and first baseman Mark Reynolds for one year at $6 million (plus incentives).

All the club has done for the short-term benefit of its rotation was sign veteran Brett Myers, who was a reliever in 2012. Sorry, but I’m not counting a minor-league deal for Daisuke Matsuzaka as helping. The Indians also traded for top prospect Trevor Bauer but they can’t expect much out of him in 2013. The way the Arizona Diamondbacks seemed to give up on him, some wonder if Bauer ever will live up to his hype.

At this point, the Indians can’t count on getting that much out of their top starters, Ubaldo Jimenez and Justin Masterson. Jimenez led the majors with 17 losses last season while posting a career-worst 5.40 ERA. He continues to search for the consistency he showed in his breakout first half three years ago with the Colorado Rockies. Masterson wasn’t much better last year, going 11-15 with a 4.93 ERA. Like Jimenez, Masterson ranked among the top five in most walks allowed.

Perhaps Indians pitchers will benefit from the club’s upgraded defense. Bourn is a two-time Gold Glove winner and, by the end of last season, Reynolds was earning high marks for his work at first base (he is replacing one of the game’s top defensive first basemen, though, in Casey Kotchman). With Bourn taking over center, the Indians can move Drew Stubbs or Michael Brantley—whoever isn’t traded—to left field. Both have proven to be capable center fielders.

Bourn, 30, also gives Cleveland one of the game’s top leadoff hitters and leading base-stealer since 2008. Bourn, who hit .274/.348/.391 for the Atlanta Braves in 2012, has spent his first seven big-league seasons in the NL. He will front a lineup that includes Swisher, Jason Kipnis, Asdrubal Cabrera, Carlos Santana and Reynolds. That’s a group that should not have trouble producing runs.

Good thing, too. With this rotation, the Indians will need to score a bunch.